CHAPTER XII #6
“The door,” she flicks her gaze back up to mine.
The black snake rears its head from the other side of the wood, daring Sianoa to cross its path.
“I’m ready,” I give her a sturdy nod.
“Then speak to me silently,” she narrows her eyes on me, “and do not let your words pass through.”
Why Elena? I call to her from inside the dark pyramid, why choose her as your Champion?
Close it shut, Alexis. Tighter.
I furrow my brows at her gorgeous face and watch as the door completely loses its handle and the snake becomes larger.
I chose Elena because the same blood that runs in your King’s veins also runs in hers. Because…
Silence.
Her words no longer grace my mind.
Because?
The black snake moves strongly on the outside of the door.
Sianoa?
“Ancients…” I whisper with wide eyes as my heart begins to pound.
“It’s working,” she smirks.
I nod my head in astonishment and lift a slightly shaking hand to my toddy.
“Again,” she smiles. “Fortify it as I try to speak to you this time.”
I look into her vibrant green eyes, willing Rivian’s door to block out her sister’s voice.
Nothing comes.
I’m unsure how long we sit here looking at the other, but I can tell by her furrowed brows that she’s trying to push through and enter. I reach a hand to the door in my mind, feeling the snake on the other side move towards my fingers as I ask it to let the Ancient’s thoughts push through.
And even though you’ve made your choice, rather hurriedly, I might add, it still hurts my brother. Do not give him any more hope, Alexis. He needs no other distractions from the task he’s set himself out to do.
No!
I slam the door shut.
Why is she speaking of this?
“He’s known of my choice from the beginning…” I tell Hiro’s sister.
Stormfall grips my shoulder hard, bringing the side of his head to my cheek as he rubs against me affectionately. I take a deep drink of toddy and look back at the beautiful Ancient, wanting to explain.
“He was with me when I made it. But you’re wrong when you say it hurts him. Hirovale is proud of my standing with Keane. Is proud of my standing with the two of them, together. He has us both, just as we have him.”
Precisely, my Queen, Hirovale’s calm voice fills my mind.
Get out! I yell at the door, standing up.
My breath catches in my chest, my heart beating hard as I try not to envision his golden eyes.
“That’s enough for today,” Sianoa sighs.
“What? No, I have it!”
“It’s well into the evening, Alexis. You need your rest. Go to sleep and quiet your mind. Build your fortifications behind that new door even more and we’ll resume again tomorrow morning.”
The tone in her voice is one without argue. She takes a step away from the table, tilting her head for me to follow as I sigh in compliance and follow her out.
“I can hear him,” I tell her quietly as we walk down the temple hall, “even when he’s not close to me, he’ll speak in my mind.”
Sianoa eyes me thoughtfully before she nods her head. “He’s strong, Alexis. Never forget that. It may take months, years even, for you to finally expel him.”
Ancients, I don’t want to wait that long.
Sianoa stops just shy of the entry pillars, opting to stay inside the dark temple as I make my way outside and into the dark of night. Canon waits for me at the top of the stairs, turning around quickly when he hears my steps.
“Does the King really think I can’t walk across the road on my own?” I laugh at him.
The Discerni soldier grins. “Just being cautious, Lady Alexis.”
“How late is it?” I ask, looking up to the moons above.
“A few turns before the night apex, Lady.”
“Alexis, please.”
The First Guard remains quiet in his walk, looking out to the forest ahead.
“Tell me about yourself, Canon. Have you always lived in Bardot? Knowledge?”
“Knowledge, yes, but I was born and raised in Agnor before I found myself in Disce’s army at Bardot.”
His comment makes me smile. He does seem to have the same peacefulness about him that the people of the lake city do.
“I’ve spent many nights falling asleep near the waters of that city with a book in hand.”
“As have I, Lady. My family grew up right on Moonsbay Lake. Our home is near Shelter’s Port.”
“I know the one,” I nod as we step onto the road. “The King tells me that you summon?”
“I do…” he says quietly at my side, “I can manipulate the elemental water, Lady Alexis. Much better than I can the earth.”
I nearly stop in my walk, assessing the man next to me that Keane has chosen to surround himself with.
The elemental water…
That can’t be a coincidence.
“How did that come about?” I ask curiously. “How was the connection made?”
Canon gives me a small smile and leads us to Elena’s cottage.
“Over the many years out on the lake. I found that I could manipulate the water from under my fishing boat around the age of ten. My brother and I moved across the lake faster than any other shipping family in all of Moonsbay. Our profits turned well.”
“That’s amazing, Canon,” I stare in astonishment as an argent dips over our heads, calling for Storm.
“It is,” he smiles and reaches for the door. He pushes it open, waiting for me to go inside.
“I’ll want to hear more,” I warn him, “see more.”
Canon chuckles. “The King told me you would once you found out.”
I roll my eyes with a smile. “Goodnight, Canon.”
“Goodnight, Lady Alexis,” he shuts the door behind me.
No one is in the home when I walk into the small kitchen. It’s calm and quiet, inviting, but not enough to dull the throb that once again takes over my head.
“Tea and reading, Storm,” I tell the Bird of Ash as he pushes off my shoulder to land at the table. “Or do I need to let you out? I can leave the window open?”
Stormfall caws and stretches his wings in response.
“Okay. Let me get you some water, first.”
I light a few candles at the table and grab a glass from the shelves, moving back to Storm to pour him a drink.
The Bird of Ash looks at me appreciatively and dips his beak in the water, watching as I set the kettle to fire and grab some steep.
We both wait in silence until the water is boiling, and it’s then that Stormfall flies to the window just as I grab a blanket and the tea.
I pull open the shutters and settle in, giving him a few strokes before he flies away.
“Not too far, please. Stay close.”
Storm caws in response and takes flight, moving out of the window as I sink into Elena’s settee and light a few more candles next to it.
Sleep finds me quickly, before I even open my book. But I’m awakened a bit later by the sound of soft shuffling steps next to the window, the sound making me open my eyes, expecting Golem.
Everything remains quiet, both inside the house and out. I sigh and rest my head against the cushion again, thinking it was probably just a rabbit in the brush…
“I’m taking you to bed, Alexis.”
Keane’s strong voice awakens me once again, his arms moving around my waist as he picks me up.
“Storm?”
“Flying around outside,” the King plants a small kiss on my hair.
“Was Golem here earlier? Or was that Canon?”
“Canon’s been outside the door this whole time,” he walks us steadily down the hall.
I sigh and snuggle in close, feeling sleep coming for me again.
“You chose a man who can summon water to be by your side,” I murmur as he opens the door, “knowing where we travel to next.”
There’s no denying the coincidence of the pairing now, even as I’m half asleep.
“So you finally approached him,” Keane chuckles and reaches down for the bed. “Took you longer than I expected.”
“I like him,” I yawn.
“And I love you, Alexis…”
Can you hear me?
Sianoa?
I nearly yell her name from behind Rivian’s door.
“You didn’t hear that?” I stand up with a grin. “I was screaming at you.”
The Ancient smiles, shaking her head as I turn towards Heysan with a smirk.
How about you, oh disbelieving one?
Heysan looks at me through narrowed eyes, resting his own fingers against his temple as he shakes his head.
“I don’t like the look you’re giving me right now, Human Reborn. I can only envision the thoughts you’re holding back from me.”
I laugh and lean down for my drink, finishing it in a swift gulp.
“This is good,” Sianoa nods, “this more than a start. Eat your lunch and let’s continue. Keep that fortification in your mind while I bring someone in here that can act as a distraction.”
The Ancient stands up from her seat and walks towards the door, opening it slightly as she whispers to someone on the other side.
“Sianoa,” I look at her thoughtfully when she walks back in, “can this also work against someone who wants to push emotions into me?”
The Ancient stops in her walk, her full demeanor quiet.
“I know of what happened to you, Alexis…”
“Then you know I don’t want it to ever happen again.”
“No,” she grimaces, “you don’t. But I’m unsure if your door will stop the Prince’s summoning. You’d have to be on your guard around him at all times.”
“I already am,” I grumble, reaching a hand for Stormfall’s chest as he sleeps on the table.
“Eat,” the Ancient directs her words to both Heysan and I.
“Yes, mother,” Heysan grins.
I smile and catch the bread he throws my way, relaxing against my chair as I close my eyes to the ache that still hasn’t left.
“Will it always hurt this much?”
I can feel, not see, the Ancients stiffen in their seats.
My eyes open to the two of them looking at eachother.
“What is it?” I sit up in my chair.
Heysan shrugs to his sister. “Because she fights it.”
“What do I fight?”
“It’s trying to push out?” Sianoa frowns, ignoring me.
“Yes,” Heysan nods.
“Will one of you tell me what it is that I’m fighting?”
Stormfall spreads his wing across the table, his yellow eyes catching mine.
“She won’t believe you…” Heysan’s voice is soft.
Sianoa frowns at her brother and turns to me.
“Your own summoning, Alexis,” she says quietly, “and the power my brother gifted to you. It wants to be used. The pain you feel is of it wanting to get out.”
“I don’t have my own summoning. Anything that comes from me is Hiro’s.”
“Told you,” Heysan sighs, reaching for his drink.
“I’m human,” I glare back at the man.